Nurses' perceptions of glycemic control in patients who have undergone cardiac surgery.
BACKGROUND
Previous work investigating the effect of glycemic control in patients who underwent cardiac surgery has demonstrated that obtaining and maintaining blood glucose values between 80 and 120 is imperative in achieving excellent clinical outcomes in a patient who have undergone cardiac surgery. However, the caregiver's workload associated with meeting this goal is only now beginning to be understood.


METHODS
This qualitative study used focus groups held on 3 consecutive days to interview nurses in the cardiovascular intensive care unit and cardiovascular step-down unit about their thoughts on glycemic control.Three research questions were developed to help guide the focus group discussions.


RESULTS
Ten nurses, 3 from cardiovascular intensive care unit and 7 from cardiovascular step-down unit, participated in the focus groups and saturation was accomplished. The essence of the nurses' message was that they recognize glycemic control as a very important part of their patient care. However, to be able to perform this intervention, they need available equipment, a designated person to obtain all blood glucose values, periodic updates on patient outcomes related to glycemic control, and a less intrusive way to draw the patients' blood.


CONCLUSIONS
The ability of the nurses to obtain glycemic control is hindered by the lack of time, lack of necessary resources/equipment, lack of knowledge about the long-term outcomes resulting from glycemic control, and the discomfort to patients caused by the frequent blood draws. Hospitals need to investigate alternative mechanisms that will assist the nurse in meeting this goal.
Henry
Linda
L
Cardiac Surgery Research, Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, Falls Church, Virginia 22042, USA. Linda.Henry@inova.org
Dunning
Elizabeth
E
Halpin
Linda
L
Stanger
Debra
D
Martin
Lisa
L
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology